Residents of a picturesque Lincolnshire village are furious after an empty property became overrun by rats.

Disturbing pictures show the rodents scurrying around the property in Metheringham and licking moisture off the windows.

Locals fear rubbish left around the house is attracting the vermin and have slammed the local council for doing too little to sort it out.

Residents in a Lincolnshire village are furious about rats emanating from an empty house

A local resident, who asked not to be named, said: ‘It has long been a problem.

‘Every day you can see the rats licking the condensation off the windows – there must be hundreds of them.

‘The council have been out and I have told them I have found rat droppings in my garden and the house is full of so much stuff you can’t even see in.

‘I think it’s a health hazard – not to mention a fire risk. It is overrun with rats. It’s a major concern in the village.’

Shocking pictures from the property show rat droppings on a table and windowsill

Another neighbour, who also didn’t want to be named, said the rat-infested home wasn’t just affecting those living nearby.

She said: ‘The lollipop lady told me kids are screaming when they walk past on their way to school.

‘It is appalling. It’s dreadful and disgusting to think that rats are in and around my home.’

‘It is a beautiful building and could be a lovely home, but it is being ruined.’

Another Metheringham resident said: ‘You can’t miss it. There are rats in the window – it looks like they are trying to claw their way out.

‘One neighbour even told me they had seen rats eating other rats. I saw pest control there yesterday in white suits with a Transit van.’

The ramshackle property is in the picturesque Lincolnshire village of Metheringham

A recent email sent to some neighbours by the council said the homeowner had six weeks to remove the vermin from the property.

A spokesman for North Kesteven District Council, said: ‘The council is aware of the situation and in response to complaints made has served notice on the owner to ensure the problem is resolved as quickly as possible.

‘It is working very closely with the owner to bring in pest control and achieve the best outcomes for the whole community.’

Primary school shuts for two days after ‘tremendous’ stench leads pest control team to discover a DEAD RAT

A school in Manchester was closed after a dead rat led to a ‘tremendous stench’

A primary school has shut after complaints about a ‘tremendous smell’ which led the discovery of a dead rat in the ceiling above where children were working.

Pest control experts were called in to St Philip’s C of E Primary School in Hulme, Manchester, after the rodent was allegedly found above the computer room.

The whole school was examined after the discovery and it was closed all day yesterday and today – although staff hope it will reopen on Monday.

Headmaster Paul Edwards said: ‘We took the decision to close the school as a precautionary measure after a dead rat was found inside the building last night.

‘We’ve called a pest control company in to deal with it and to take some further precautionary measures and fully expect school to be open again on Monday.’

A source said more rats were spotted within the ceiling, adding: ‘For some time now the staff have been complaining of a tremendous smell within the school environment. One staff member started to heave.’

In a letter to parents posted on the school’s website on Wednesday, Mr Edwards continued: ‘Thank you for your understanding regarding the necessary closure of school today and tomorrow.

‘I felt it was right to do so because, at the time of closing, a strong smell was affecting the school environment and I was concerned that this would have a detrimental effect on the children.

The head teacher said the smell ‘was affecting the school environment’

‘The situation was being investigated by professionals at the time and a single rat carcass was discovered in the building. Today I am, as a precaution, having school thoroughly investigated.

‘The kitchens have been examined already and are fine and the rest of school will be looked at tomorrow.

‘I am confident that experts will make sure that school is safe for reopening as planned on Monday.’

When approached about the matter before the school made a statement, its chair of governors, Philip Geldard, said it was being closed for environmental reasons.